New allegations of grave crimes have emerged in the Central African Republic, implicating mercenaries from the Wagner group. The reported victims include former combatants who were participating in a disarmament initiative, alongside innocent civilians. General Ndalé, a prominent Antibalaka warlord, has claimed to recognize his own fighters among the deceased in graphic images. Both the Central African opposition and civil society are now demanding the immediate withdrawal of these foreign fighters and an end to the prevailing culture of impunity.

Disarmament operation ends in tragedy

A disturbing video has been circulating widely across social media platforms since Tuesday. The footage reportedly depicts Russian mercenaries, accompanied by their Central African auxiliaries often referred to as “Black Wagners,” standing near several decapitated bodies. This horrific scene was allegedly filmed by the Wagner operatives themselves. Shortly after the video leaked, General Ndalé swiftly identified the slain individuals.

According to General Ndalé, the victims were members of his faction. He recounted that the “Wagner group summoned them, and they reached an agreement to proceed with disarmament.” General Ndalé firmly asserted that these men “had deserted their ranks and departed. While they were gathering to await the Wagner forces, alongside civilians, the Wagner group brutally killed them all, including the civilians present.”

This incident is not an isolated one; the former Wagner group’s mercenaries have been implicated in numerous alleged crimes across the Central African Republic. The democratic opposition expresses profound dismay, unequivocally demanding that the government facilitate the complete and unconditional withdrawal of these mercenaries from national territory.

Martin Ziguélé, president of the MLPC and spokesperson for the BRDC, responded with a local proverb: “One has never seen a Guinea fowl leave the bush to peck out a chick’s eye in the village.” He emphasized, “I cannot accept that forces brought in to support us would turn against our own compatriots. This is a matter of principle, and I want to state very clearly that our support is entirely for the Central African armed forces. One cannot come to aid someone, then replace them, and subsequently turn against them.”

Civil society demands justice

The government has yet to issue a statement, and attempts to elicit a response have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, civil society leaders remain resolute in their outrage. Quentin Ngbouando, head of the Gwé association, is calling for a robust judicial investigation and response.

“For the past 24 hours, lifeless bodies have been lying on the ground, surrounded by Wagner group mercenaries who completed an operation of torture and cruel assassination,” Quentin Ngbouando stated. “It is unacceptable for cruelty to triumph over justice. Therefore, we demand that the government shed light on this situation and that the perpetrators be prosecuted for their crimes.”

Adding to the complexity, Russian operatives are reportedly deeply embedded within the Central African Republic’s penal system. Human rights advocates suspect them of being responsible for numerous disappearances at the SRI (Section of Research and Investigations), an entity linked to the gendarmerie. Furthermore, allegations include the murders of police officers and the intimidation and physical assault of judges. Reports from respected organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which detail these acts of violence attributed to Russian forces, have regrettably seen no concrete follow-up to date.